Rosie’s Rainy Day: A Gentle Tale of Friendship and Feelings

One single raindrop can be as small as the tip of a pencil. We saw last time how Hattie the Hedgehog found her own quiet way to feel her big excitement. Today’s story is about a little rabbit named Rosie, and a day that didn't go quite as planned. Rosie the rabbit had her favorite yellow boots right by the door. Beside them was her little wicker basket. Inside, she had packed a red-checkered blanket and three perfect carrot muffins for her picnic with Leo the Squirrel and Pip the Mouse.

The sun was making shiny squares on the floor. Everything was ready for the BEST day. But then… a little grey cloud drifted in front of the sun. The shiny squares on the floor disappeared. Rosie’s nose twitched. She hopped to the window and saw another cloud, and another. Then she heard it. A tiny… plink. Then another. Plink. Plink. Pitter-patter-pitter-patter. Rain was running down the window pane in little rivers. Her ears, which had been pointing straight up with excitement, began to droop.

The phone rang. It was Leo’s mom. The park would be too wet and muddy. The playdate was cancelled. A big, wobbly feeling started in Rosie’s tummy and rose all the way up into her throat. A tear rolled down her fluffy cheek. Then another. Mama Rabbit came and sat beside her. She didn't say, "don't be sad." She just gave Rosie a soft hug and said, "I know. It feels very, very disappointing when something you're excited for has to change." They sat for a moment, just watching the rain.

Then Mama Rabbit whispered, "I wonder… what do you think it sounds like inside a cloud?" Rosie sniffled. "I don't know. Watery?" Mama Rabbit smiled. "Maybe. Or maybe… it sounds like a cozy little house." She looked at the blankets Rosie had packed. "It gives me an idea." Together, they gathered every pillow and blanket they could find. They draped the big red-checkered blanket over two chairs, creating a cozy little den right in the living room. They crawled inside with the carrot muffins and a flashlight.

The rain wasn't a sad sound anymore. From inside their fort, it was a gentle pitter-patter song on the roof above them. It was the coziest sound in the world. Rosie nibbled her muffin and listened. This wasn't the day she had planned. It wasn't a sunny, outdoor day at all. But it was warm. And it was safe. And it was its OWN kind of happy. Tucked inside her blanket fort, Rosie felt the warm, happy feeling spread from her tummy all the way to the tips of her floppy, listening ears.